Our Story

Our Story

ALSO helps children know Jesus.

Since 2002, ALSO has awarded more than $3.2 million in scholarships to children attending Lutheran schools where they grow in their faith each day.

These scholarships are made possible by hundreds of people who contribute to ALSO.

Our Vision

Imagine more children learning about Jesus and beginning a lifelong relationship with Him. They can have a quality education in a safe environment with loving teachers.

Yet the cost of education continues to rise affecting parents’ ability to keep their children enrolled in private schools.

At ALSO, we have a dream to see parents send their children to Lutheran schools in Arizona with tuition costs fully covered through tax credit scholarships.

Our Journey

The Start of Something Very Good

In the beginning, it was God plus nothing and He created everything. There wasn’t a big bang, or even a little bang. Just God.

Today, He’s making Christian education possible through state tax credits.

Arizona law allows taxpayers to support Lutheran schools. In return, donors receive a direct, dollar-for-dollar credit that lowers their state income tax.

So every year, hundreds of people make donations and actually receive their money back.

In fact, Arizona’s Private School Tax Credit became the law of the land in 1997. While this unique opportunity is truly a win-win for literally thousands of donors, schools and children, the legislation has been challenged all the way to the United States Supreme Court.

The Private School Tax Credit was ultimately upheld, and has been expanded and refined over time.

In 2002, Arizona Lutheran Scholarship Organization (ALSO) was founded as a 501(c)(3) non-profit School Tuition Organization to implement the Arizona Private School Tax Credit. All of our Directors volunteer, and we have no payroll or rent expenses so more than 95% of funds received have been awarded to students.

The majority of ALSO’s scholarships initially went to children at Risen Savior Lutheran Elementary School until it closed in 2014. The small elementary school couldn’t compete with the larger Charter schools located nearby in brand new buildings with modern classrooms, gymnasiums and a wide range of extra-curricular activities.

ALSO stood at a crossroads. We had fundraising, marketing, technology, accounting and all other necessary operations in place. We needed students to apply for scholarships.

It All Adds Up

God worked all things together for our good. He is the one who multiplied to feed 5,000 people with two fish and five loaves of bread.

In the same way, He expanded the borders of ALSO. We could have folded up shop. Instead, God opened doors mobilizing 19 Lutheran congregations to raise the funds needed for scholarships and six schools to make Christian education affordable for families.

More scholarship applications and more donations have been received than ever before. Church members are excited to support Christian education helping children build a solid foundation of faith for life.

In addition, endorsements of ALSO flow from school leaders, local pastors as well as The Rev. Larry Stoterau, President of the Pacific Southwest District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

It really is nothing short of a miracle. God is faithful!

Our Mission

While ALSO has grown through challenges and evolved in response to new opportunities, our mission stays the same. We are fully committed to helping children receive a Christian education.

Payment Information

Send completed form to

Arizona Lutheran Scholarship Organization
PO Box 13277, Chandler, AZ 85248
NOTICE: A school tuition organization cannot award, restrict, or reserve scholarships only on the basis of a donor’s recommendation. A taxpayer may not claim a tax credit if the taxpayer agrees to swap donations with another taxpayer to benefit either taxpayer’s own dependent. A.R.S. 43-1603 (C). Any designation of your own dependent as a potential recipient is prohibited